معرفی
Anselm Berrigan is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Writing Department at Pratt Institute's School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, where he teaches writing classes. He also teaches at Brooklyn College and previously served as Co-Chair in Writing at the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts interdisciplinary MFA program. Berrigan is a prominent figure in contemporary American poetry with numerous publications spanning over two decades.
- BA in English/Journalism from SUNY-Buffalo (1993)
- MFA in Poetry from Brooklyn College (1998)
Berrigan's work represents a significant contribution to contemporary experimental poetry, characterized by political engagement, formal innovation, and language-centered writing. His poetic voice has been described as "one of the most refreshing in contemporary American poetry, for its singular welding of candor, political awareness, and humor." His work often explores the intersection of the personal and political, navigating contemporary culture through fragmented narratives and formal experimentation. Berrigan's poetry demonstrates a consistent engagement with political realities while questioning poetry's efficacy as a vehicle for political address.
Berrigan's publications reveal a consistent trajectory of formal experimentation and political engagement. His work shows evolution from early fragmented narratives to more complex serial forms, while maintaining a distinctive voice that blends political awareness with linguistic play. His recent work continues to explore contemporary concerns through experimental forms, demonstrating how poetry can engage with the political while maintaining aesthetic integrity.
- Individual Artists Award from the Foundation of Contemporary Arts (2017)
- Process Space Residency by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (2015)
- Robert Rauschenberg Residency (2014)
- New York State Foundation for the Arts fellow in Poetry (2007)
- Three grants from the Fund for Poetry
- 2025 lecturer for The Bagley-Wright Lecture Series
Berrigan has served as poetry editor for The Brooklyn Rail from 2008 through 2023 and was Artistic Director of The Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church from 2003-2007, where he hosted the Wednesday Night Reading Series. As a member of the subpress publishing collective, he has supported emerging writers. His editorial work, particularly on his father Ted Berrigan's collected works, has contributed significantly to preserving and promoting the legacy of the New York School of poetry. Berrigan's approach to teaching and mentorship reflects his belief in poetry as a space for exploration of consciousness filtered through materiality of words.
As a prominent figure in New York's literary scene, Berrigan has been involved with multiple literary communities including The Poetry Project and various publishing collectives. His work bridges academic and independent literary spheres, maintaining active engagement with both institutional and grassroots poetry communities.
